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Greening promises to close DfE’s 5.3% gender pay gap

The Department for Education (DfE) has become the first government department to publish its gender pay gap, revealing a 5.3% difference between male and female employees.

Compared to the UK’s national gender pay gap of 18.1%, which is the lowest since records began in 1997, it is significantly lower. The department has also reported a mean bonus pay gap of only 0.8%.

Justine Greening, education secretary and minister for Women and Equalities, said she was proud of the DfE for “setting an example to other employers as we build a stronger economy where success is defined by talent, not gender or circumstance”.

The DfE noted that more than half (55%) of its senior civil servants are female and there is a higher proportion of women than men in the department’s top pay quartile. However, there is also a higher concentration of women to men in its lowest pay quartile, which has contributed to the gender pay gap.

“The UK’s gender pay gap is at a record low, but we are committed to closing it. As one of the UK’s largest employers, the public sector has a vital role to play in leading the way to tackle the gender pay gap which is why the DfE’s step to publish our gender pay gap matters,” Greening said. “Through transparency we can find out what the situation is, where there is best practice and create pressure for more progress.”

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Devolution, restructuring and widespread service reform: from a journalist’s perspective, it’s never been a more exciting time to report on the public sector. That’s why I could not be more thrilled to be taking over the reins at PSE at this key juncture.
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